maneb and imidacloprid

The effect of two thyroid disrupting pesticides (TDPs) mancozeb (MCZ) and imidacloprid (IMI) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal/testicular (HPG) axis of a seasonally breeding bird, Amandava amandava has been evaluated. Male birds (n=8/group) were exposed to each of the pesticide (0.25% LD

Topics: Animals; Endocrine Disruptors; Estradiol; Hypothalamus; Male; Maneb; Neonicotinoids; Nitro Compounds; Passeriformes; Peptide Hormones; Pesticides; Pituitary Gland; Testis; Testosterone; Thyroid Gland; Zineb

Hippocampus is highly susceptible to endocrine disrupting chemicals exposure particularly during the critical phase of brain development. In this study, mice offspring were exposed to endocrine disruptors mancozeb (MCZ) and imidacloprid (IMI) individually (40 mg MCZ and 0.65 mg IMI/kg/day) as well as to their equimixture (40 mg MCZ + 0.65 mg IMI/kg/day) through the diet of lactating mothers from post-natal day (PND) 1 to PND 28. Half of the randomly selected male offspring were killed at PND 29, and the rest half were left unexposed and killed at PND 63. Brain weight, histology, plasma hormone profile and working memory performance were the various end-points studied. Brain weight was significantly decreased in the mixture-exposed group at PND 29, which persisted to PND 63. Total thickness of pyramidal cell layers decreased significantly along with misalignment, shrinkage and degeneration of pyramidal neurons in CA1 and CA3 regions of the IMI and mixture-exposed groups. The length and branch points of dendrites of pyramidal neurons were decreased significantly in mixture-exposed group at both PND 29 and PND 63. Dendritic spine density was also reduced in mixture-exposed group offspring. Testosterone level was significantly decreased only at PND 29, but corticosterone level was increased at both PND 29 and PND 63 in mixture-exposed offspring. T-maze task performance revealed significantly increased time duration and reduced path efficiency in mixture-exposed group offspring. The results thus indicate that pesticide mixture exposure could lead to changes in learning behaviour even at doses that individually did not induce any adverse effect on hippocampal organization.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Brain; Endocrine Disruptors; Female; Hippocampus; Lactation; Male; Maneb; Maternal Exposure; Maze Learning; Memory, Short-Term; Mice; Neonicotinoids; Nitro Compounds; Pesticides; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Pyramidal Cells; Testosterone; Zineb

Non-target organisms, including human and wildlife, are susceptible to deleterious effects of pesticide mixtures in their environment. Present study demonstrated the disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis in a seasonally breeding wildlife bird Amandava amandava on co-exposure to dithiocarbamate mancozeb/MCZ and neonicotinoid imidacloprid/IMI, at concentrations even lower than respective environmentally realistic exposure level of each of the pesticide. Adult male birds (n=8/group) were exposed individually to 0.25% LD

Topics: Animals; Endocrine Disruptors; Environmental Exposure; Epithelial Cells; Fungicides, Industrial; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Insecticides; Male; Maneb; Neonicotinoids; Nitro Compounds; Passeriformes; Thyroid Gland; Thyroxine; Triiodothyronine; Zineb

Thyroid is an important homeostatic regulator of metabolic activities as well as endocrine mechanisms including those of reproduction. Present investigation elucidated the thyroid disrupting potential of a neonicotinoid imidacloprid and a dithiocarbamate mancozeb in a seasonally breeding wildlife bird, Red Munia (Amandava amandava) who is vulnerable to these two pesticides through diet (seed grains and small insects). Adult male birds were exposed to 0.5% LD50 mgkg(-1)bwd(-1) of both the pesticides through food for 30days during the preparatory and breeding phases. Weight, volume and histopathology of thyroid gland were distinctly altered. Disruption of thyroid follicles reflected in nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio (N/C) in epithelial and stromal cells, epithelial cell hypertrophy and altered colloid volume. Impairment of thyroid axis was pesticide and phase specific as evident from the plasma levels of thyroid (T4 and T3) and pituitary (TSH) hormones. In preparatory phase, plasma TSH was increased in response to decrease of T4 on mancozeb exposure showing responsiveness of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis to feedback regulation. On imidacloprid exposure, however, plasma levels of both T4 and TSH were decreased indicating non-functioning of negative feedback mechanism. Increased plasma T3 in response to both the pesticides exposure might be due to synthesis from non-thyroidal source(s) in a compensatory response to decrease level of T4. In breeding phase, impairment of HPT axis was more pronounced as plasma T4, T3 and TSH were significantly decreased in response to both mancozeb and imidacloprid. Thus, low dose pesticide exposure could affect the thyroid homeostasis and reproduction.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Cell Nucleus Size; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Monitoring; Epithelial Cells; Fungicides, Industrial; Imidazoles; Male; Maneb; Neonicotinoids; Nitro Compounds; Organ Size; Passeriformes; Pituitary Gland; Stromal Cells; Thyroid Gland; Thyroid Hormones; Thyrotropin; Zineb

Pesticides acting as endocrine disrupting chemicals disrupt the homeostasis of body metabolism. The present study elucidated that the low dose coexposure of thyroid disrupting dithiocarbamate fungicide mancozeb (MCZ) and neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid (IMI) during lactation increased the risk of body weight gain in mice later in life. Body weight gain has been linked to pesticide-induced hypothyroidism and hyperprolactinemia and alteration of lipid profiles. In vivo results were substantiated with in silico molecular docking (MD) analysis that predicted the binding affinity of pesticides with thyroid hormone receptors (TRα and TRβ) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), the major nuclear receptors of peripheral fat metabolism. Binding potency of MCZ and IMI was compared with that of T3, and its antagonist ethylene thiourea (ETU) as well as PPARγ agonist (rosiglitazone) and antagonist (HL005). MD simulation predicted that both MCZ and IMI may compete with T3 for binding with TRs. Imidazole group of IMI formed hydrogen bonds with TRs like that of ETU. MCZ may compete with rosiglitazone and HL005 for PPARγ, but IMI showed no affinity. Thus while both MCZ and IMI could disrupt the TRs functioning, MCZ alone may affect PPARγ. Coexposure of pesticides decreased the plasma thyroid hormones and increased the cholesterol and triglyceride. Individual pesticide exposure in low dose might not exert the threshold response to affect the receptors signaling further to cause hormonal/metabolic impairment. Thus, cumulative response of the mixture of thyroid disrupting pesticides can disrupt metabolic regulation through several pathways and contribute to gain in body weight.

Topics: Animals; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Computer Simulation; Feeding Behavior; Female; Hormones; Imidazoles; Lipid Metabolism; Lipids; Male; Maneb; Metabolism; Mice; Molecular Docking Simulation; Neonicotinoids; Nitro Compounds; Pesticides; PPAR gamma; Receptors, Thyroid Hormone; Signal Transduction; Zineb